Frank Maher said that he carries out all his duties diligently and gets paid accordingly. Maher, whose payments decreased by over ?1,300, said that he didn?t see many reasons for the increase around the country.

All councillors get a representation allowance and an allowance for attending meetings,? he said. ?A large increase would certainly be unusual. This could happen if someone becomes mayor or chairperson of a committee.I can?t imagine there would be any massive payments in Louth. We always seem to be below average, at the modest end of the scale. There are more expenses involved in being mayor, and I think that will be reflected for me in next year?s figures.It is taxpayers money so I definitely think the public have a right to know about the payments.?

Gerald Nash, Lab

Gerald Nash said that payments received are simply a reflection of the work that councillors put into representing the people.We get a basic annual salary which is largely taxed,? he said. ?We get money for the number of meetings attended, as well as travel, telephone and postage expenses. It just helps us to carry out the job properly.I also run a business but I still put in about 35 or 40 hours into my job as a councillor. I think anyone that does their job properly should be putting in those hours. It is fair pay for a fair day?s work.We have one of the most transparent and open wages of any jobs,? he added.

Ken O?Heiligh, Ind

Independent councillor Ken O?Heiligh said that his payment is relatively low for the job he carries out, saying that he is doing a full time job on a part-time wage.The only thing I keep is my normal allowance,? Ken said. ?We get allocated money for various conferences, but I don?t buy into that. I reallocate the money to various local based charities.There are some high payments, but they are mostly to Fianna Fail councillors. They can get to chair about three different committees and the wages reflect that. It is not the payments that I disagree with, but how they are allocated their positions.I often work between 55 to 60 hours a week. Someone can knock on my door on Sunday and I can?t turn them away, because this is a full time job.?

Drogheda East

Imelda Munster

Imelda Munster stated that it is ?certainly not justifiable that councillors can receive in excess of the average industrial wage? after hearing how over ?83m had been paid to councillors over the past three years.

Cllr Munster, however, received ?22,418, last year, less than the average payment of ?33,347.

She revealed that councillors received payments to cover mobile and travel expenses to meetings that they incur while the chairperson or the chair of a specific board would receive a substantial bonus on top of their basic salary, which tended to increase their salary somewhat.

Munster also revealed that the ?5,000 she receives for conference expenses is distributed to various community, sports and voluntary groups in the Drogheda area instead of attending.

Michael O?Dowd

Michael O?Dowd stated that ?it is a major overhead? on hearing how Louth County Council paid out ?760,540 last year to councillors, an increase of ?41,870 on the previous year.

He noted that there are too many councillors in Louth County Council and believed that the community would be ?better served with fewer councillors? and that ?better resources? could be put in their place. The basic payment that councillors receive is justified because of the work load.?

However, he did state that ?individuals must justify their actions when claiming expenses.?

O?Dowd also broke down the councillor allowance.Councillors receive an allowance of ?16,600 which is taxable, there is then a graduated scale of allowances available for mileage to meetings and for conferences also.?

Oliver Tully

Oliver Tully believed that the payments that councillors receive are justifiable as they are in lieu with the hours councillors work.It is all relevant to the amount of work each councillor does, those who get the highest allowances are those who work most?.

He stated that ?councillors are on call 365 days a year and must deal with community groups and individual problems and attend mettings that can last all day.?

Cllr Tully also spoke of how county councillors are responsible for putting policies in place that have been set by TDs.

By Owen Byrne and Anne Marie Clarke